Risky Game (22 page)

Brody let out a relieved sigh, sending up a silent prayer to both God and Sister Agnes.

“You’ve been awfully scarce
this month, Bridgett.” Shay slid the sweet potato casserole into the oven.

Thanksgiving had turned into an impromptu celebration of young Veronica Marie Devlin’s early arrival. Brody and Shay had been invited to dinner at the quarterback’s house along with Will and Julianne, and Will’s mother and her husband, Blaze GM Hank Osbourne. Naturally, Carly’s sister, Lisa, and her husband, Coach Richardson, and their children were dining with them also. It was a happy, fun afternoon—especially since the Blaze had won their game on Sunday.

Brody’s family usually spent the holiday in Baltimore, but a forecasted nor’easter kept them home in Boston. Bridgett tried to plead that she had too much work, insisting she’d have dinner in her hotel, but Brody would have none of it. She’d relented under her younger brother’s badgering, but only after dramatically stating for the record that her attendance at Thanksgiving dinner was under protest.

“I’ve been really busy with the trial,” Bridgett said as she sipped her whiskey sour. “Besides, I figure you two need your privacy. I wouldn’t want to walk in on something that would gross me out.”

Shay tossed the oven mitts on the counter, shooting Brody’s sister a disgusted look. “For your information, I’ve been busy finalizing my dissertation, so the only thing you’d walk in on would be me swimming in a pile of spreadsheets and my advisor’s comments.” Which wasn’t entirely true. Brody had managed to distract her multiple times this week, including a mind-blowing encounter in the shower earlier that morning.

“Your blush says otherwise.” Bridgett snickered. “When is the big day defending your thesis, anyway?”

“One week from today. It’s basically perfunctory at this point. I’ve had to endure some rigorous reviews along the way and my work is pretty solid. The information I gathered this fall was secondary to my overall research, but it was helpful in driving home my theory.”

Bridgett gave a delicate snort. “Don’t tell Brody he was secondary. He’s used to being first in everything.”

Shay glanced across the breakfast bar into the family room, where the object of their discussion sat rolling a ball across the floor to a delighted Owen, who had just learned to sit up on his own. It was hard to tell who was enjoying their game more, the baby or the man-child. Brody had mastered getting everything he wanted at a young age and Bridgett and her sisters were partly to blame for that. But there was a difference between being competitive and being spoiled and Shay was the only one who recognized how Brody struggled with that concept. He wanted people to expect more from him, but he hadn’t been given the skills to know how to earn that respect. And that frightened him. That was a side of Brody he kept well-hidden from his family.

“And then it’s off to prison.” Bridgett’s tone was joking, but her eyes told Shay the lawyer was fishing, trying to figure out how serious her relationship with Brody really was.

Shay didn’t bother laughing at the reminder. She’d been a fool to give in to Brody and agree to stay a few more weeks, but she knew he needed her help keeping his blood sugar in check. And she knew she’d be a bigger fool to give up whatever time she had with him. When she headed home at the end of the season, he’d have his contract renewal and he could disclose his condition to the team without worrying about getting cut. Meanwhile, Mama would finally be safe from financial ruin, but Shay would be sleeping alone at night with only the memories of Brody’s hard body to keep her warm.

The future was fact for Shay so she didn’t bother commenting, instead giving Bridgett a shrug.

“Interesting,” Bridgett said taking another sip of her drink.

“What’s interesting?” Brody walked into the kitchen carrying a slobbering Owen like a football, the baby’s legs kicking gleefully.

Bridgett opened her mouth to comment, before closing it quickly, her face suddenly paling. “Nothing,” she said softly, standing and grabbing her glass. “Nothing at all.” With a nod she wandered over toward the fireplace.

“What’s up with her?” Brody’s eyes followed his sister while he held Owen on the counter. The baby chortled as he tried to stand on his tiptoes.

“I have no idea. Maybe it’s just the trial. Is she always like this during a big case?”

“Not usually.” Brody didn’t bother to hide the concern in his voice. “She’s always prickly, but lately she’s been a bit more isolated than usual.”

“Maybe you should talk to her. See what’s going on.” Shay reached over and tickled Owen’s tummy.

“My sisters have already tried. She’ll tell me when she’s ready. She always does.”

A whistle sounded from the area of the television.

“Wow, Shay! Can I meet your sister the next time we play Dallas?” C.J. Richardson, the coach’s teenage son called from the other room. A picture of her sister, Teryn, smiling for the camera, filled the sixty-inch television screen. Since the initial blogs, Teryn had received a lot more camera time during Cowboys games and she was no doubt loving the extra notoriety.

Coach cuffed his son on the back of his head. “Stick to girls your own age.”

“Jeez, Dad. I just want to meet her. Not marry her.”

Owen tugged on a piece of Shay’s hair and Brody stepped in closer, shielding her from the debate between father and son. “Both you and your sister aren’t home for Thanksgiving. What will your mom do today?”

She pried the baby’s fingers loose and wrapped his hand around her own finger, holding him so he could bounce on his toes. “Meemaw will complain about cooking a big dinner with no one to eat it, so Mama will just go to one of the hairdressers’ homes. It’s actually a pretty quiet day for her. She can relax before the busy holiday season. Teryn and I haven’t been home for years, so she’s kind of used to it.”

“My mother would whine for weeks if one of her children wasn’t at her dinner table. That’s why they always come here, so I don’t have to listen to it.”

Shay laughed. “That’s probably why Bridgett is so testy. She knows she’s going to hear it from your mama. But Mama knows I’ll be home in a few weeks. Teryn and I are always in Texas for Christmas.”

Brody’s mouth grew tight and his eyes clouded. “Christmas is still a month away.”

“Only three weeks, actually.” Owen reached his hand up for Shay and she lifted him into her arms. She watched as Brody absorbed the information, a brief panic flashed in his eyes. She stepped closer so as not to be overheard. “It’s going to be fine, Brody. I’ll just be a phone call away and I’ll leave you with enough menus that you’ll manage.”

Something else flickered quickly over his face, but it was gone before Shay could interpret it. “Yeah, sure,” was all he said. The moment stretched as the baby gripped both of their shirts, pulling them closer. Brody’s eyes never left hers and it seemed as if he wanted to say something more, but they were interrupted by a brewing disagreement between Julianne and Shane, both of whom were trying to baste the turkey.

“I’ve been cooking turkey for ten years, Julianne, I think I know what I’m doing,” the quarterback said.

“Hmmpf,” Julianne wrinkled her nose at her best friend’s husband. “Just because you’re opening a restaurant doesn’t make you the superior cook.”

Brody grabbed Owen from Shay’s arms. “No, but in his kitchen, he’s the boss,” he said handing Julianne the baby while winking at Devlin over the top of her head.

“Suck up,” Julianne mumbled, snuggling her son to her chest. “I’m going to find my husband and tell him to beat you both up.”

“By the way, Shay, thanks for pitching in and coming to Denver with the team this weekend,” Hank said as he brought the appetizer plates to the kitchen. “We’ve gone through our share of tragedies in catering this season and I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

“Trust me, the guys will appreciate you being there helping Nate. He’s the best there is at his job, but his personality can grate on you,” Coach called from across the room. “You’ll be a welcome relief.”

Shay wasn’t too thrilled about the cross-country trip this weekend. Not only was she going to miss a paying shift at Celtic Charm—the team was leaving early Saturday morning to accommodate the time change—but she wouldn’t have much downtime to prepare for her thesis review. Not to mention that Nate had returned to his narcissistic self once she and Brody had become involved for real. Emma insisted it was because the trainer had a secret crush on Shay, but she didn’t think Nate’s attitude could be explained away by a high school scenario.

“I’m happy to do it,” she replied as Brody winked at her.

Dinner was a casual buffet in deference to the new mother and baby, but mostly because there was football on television and all of the men in the room were enjoying watching the game from the sofa rather than the sidelines. With delicious food and lots of laughter, even Bridgett finally relaxed. Brody was more relaxed, too, after their conversation in the kitchen. Whatever he’d been about to say was forgotten as he spent the rest of the evening at Shay’s side, his arm around her shoulders or his warm body making contact with hers every time he got the opportunity.

“Any luck on the search for that blogger?” Coach asked Hank during dessert.

“No luck at all. Whoever it is, they’re well and truly hidden,” Hank said.

“I’m just glad she’s got her claws into a few other teams right now. It’s such a disruption to the locker room, all that gossip.”

“It’s the price of fame,” Bridgett said nonchalantly over the rim of her teacup. The adults in the room were quiet for a moment as they processed her statement. All of them had been kicked by the media before at some point in their lives.

“Hey!” C.J. cried, shattering the silent reflection. “Troy just took the last piece of pumpkin pie.” The subject was dropped and everyone’s attention turned back to the game as more pie was retrieved from the kitchen.

Brody’s overattentiveness continued into the bedroom later that night. As they made love in his big bed, he took his time, allowing his hands and mouth to trace over every inch of her body, now feverish after his slow deliberate exploration.

“Brody,” she gasped as he blew on her sensitive nipple.

“Hmmm,” he mumbled, kissing his way between her breasts.

“I need . . .”

“What do you need?” His breath fanned over the other aroused nipple and she bucked against him.

That seemed to spur him along, but then his lips lingered at her collarbone, gently nibbling at the skin there.

“Oh, please, Brody.”

Unable to take it any longer, she threaded her fingers in his hair and yanked his mouth up toward hers. He chuckled low in his belly and she felt it in her own. Grabbing her hands, he laced his fingers with hers and pinned her to the mattress with his hard body. He brought his forehead down to meet hers.

“Please what, Brody?” he teased. “What is it you want, Shannon? This?” He pumped his hips so his erection rubbed between her legs and she moaned.

“Is that all you need? All you want?” he demanded.

She couldn’t make out his eyes in the shadowy room, but his voice was anxious, almost belligerent.

“You’re sure you don’t want anything more?” he asked hoarsely.

Shay shook her head in exasperation, unsure what he was getting at but wishing whatever it was, he’d get there quickly.

He took her bottom lip between his and sucked gently. Her hips arched again making contact with the part of him she desperately wanted inside of her.

“You sure you don’t want me?” His voice was strained as he touched the tip of his nose to hers.

Shay’s breath hitched in her throat.
How did he know?
Over the past few weeks, she’d been holding back. Reserving a small part of her heart and her sanity for that day when he’d no longer need her.
Want her.
But typical of Brody, he not only knew, but he insisted on charming it out of her. Conquering her with the caress of his hands and his mouth so that he could then steal that last piece of her and take it for his own. Her body overwrought with desire, Shay was tired of holding out. It was no use. When this ended a few weeks from now, her heart would be in pieces anyway.

“Yes,” she cried. “I want all of you, Brody. All of you!” She lifted her head up to kiss him more fully and he responded with a growl. His mouth ate at hers as he thrust deeply inside her, their hands still clasped on either side of her head. Brody was relentless, pushing her to release, and then, with a throaty moan, finding his own.

 • • • 

Brody stretched out his
hip on a foam roller on the floor of his hotel room. A hit two weeks ago still left the joint stiff and the cold Denver air carrying the threat of snow didn’t help any. Kickoff wasn’t for another six hours—six thirty Mountain time. The team had already had breakfast and an early morning meeting and now the players had two hours of downtime. Had the weather not been so ominous, he might have sweet-talked Shannon into going for a walk to stretch out his hip.

Shannon likely had her nose buried deeply in her note cards by now anyway, so Brody settled for a session with his personal trainer, Erik, who was in Denver working with one of the Broncos this weekend. Going to Nate and the team training staff would only alert management to a potential injury, and Brody was playing tonight no matter what.

He got up to answer the knock at the door and was pleasantly surprised to find not Erik, but Shannon standing in the hallway. Wearing her puffy jacket, formfitting jeans, and her cowboy boots, she looked bright-eyed and fresh leaning against the doorjamb with her ever-present book bag over her shoulder. Her hair was windblown and her cheeks red; she’d obviously just come in from outdoors. He cursed himself for not going with his original plan.

“Hey there,” she said softly.

Brody quickly scanned the hallway before yanking her inside and slamming the door.

“Hey yourself,” he said before covering her mouth with his. Her hands were chilly as they slid beneath his T-shirt to roam over his bare skin, but he didn’t object. He liked this new Shannon; the one he’d discovered in his bed Thanksgiving night. As her sexual experience grew, so had her confidence, but the raw passion was new. Whatever had been tethering Shannon was gone and Brody craved this version of her even more than he wanted to admit to himself. He unzipped her jacket eager to get his own hands on her skin.